Commode top cover holder



Nov. 17, 1953 1 w. BOONE coMMoDE Top COVER HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed lFeb. 17, 1950 Lloyd W Baone INVENTOR.

Nov. 17, 1953 L, w, BOONE 2,659Q091 COMMODE TOP COVER HOLDER Filed Feb. 1'7, 195C 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6 f

L /oyd W Baone JNVENTOR.

22, are disposed in subst-antially parallel relation and extending from one side of lthe body I8, in the direction of the hinged extremity of the cover III, terminate in hooks 24 which are connected by links 2B to the above mentioned end IB of the flexible rim I4. Conveniently, the links 26 may comprise a single piece of material folded upon itself in a figure 8 shape to provide a pair of eyes whereby the hooks 24 are swivelly connected .to the end IB. The opposite extremities of the flexible spring members 22 extend into and are seated in suitable sockets in the body I8, and are preferably embedded or permanently anchored therein in any desired manner. The members 22 are inherently tensioned in such a direction that they are yieldingly urged toward each other, thereby drawing the two extremities I6 toward each other for tensioning the rim I4 and holding the cover I2 tautly upon the top I0.

When it is desired Iso-change or replace the cover,it is merely necessary to disengage the members 2 from the hooks 24 and/or from the endLIB of the rim I4, in order that the cover may be removed and a new coverl replaced.

Referring next to Figures 3 5, there is disclosed the second embodiment of this invention, which is likewise associated with the commode top, a portion of which is shown at I and the commode top cover I2, not shown, in this form of the drawings, but likewise being of the construction shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, a second form of spring device is employed, which is mounted upon the commode top in substantially the same position, that is, at about the mid-point of its under surface, but in which a modified spring construction andV spring mounting is provided. In this form of the invention,V a single spring member is provided, the same having a central portion' 28, which, at its extremities, is provided with a pair of helical coils 3G disposed in parallel in respect to Yeach other and vertically or perpendicularly with respect to the under surface of `the commode top I0. These helical coils encircle Va metal tube or bushing 32 having flanged such as ,a screw 36 or the like extends through the tubular member 32 for anchoring this spool and the helical coils 38 wound thereon to the under surface of the toilet cover I0.

The wire member forming the spring extends from the other extremity of the helical coi1s.38

and terminates in a pair ofV substantially parallel spring arms 38, each provided with a hooked extremity 40 which is adapted to be detachably secured as by the above mentioned swivel link 26 tothe extremity I6l of a exible rim I4 inserted in the seam or bead on' the margin of the top cover as in the preceding embodiment.

In this embodiment, it will be seen that a single y wire member is provided to form the entire spring assembly, and each of the spring arms is yieldingly urged'by the convolutions of the helical coils 3D toward the other arm, to thereby resiliently tension or tighten the rim I4. It will be further noted that the metallic spools or bushings 32Y` serve to anchor the spring coils, and thereby the entire spring device,V and further serve to retain the base member 28 in spaced relation to the under surface of the commode top. TheV operation of this form of the invention is substantia-lly identical with that previously described in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

A third embodiment of the principles of the invention has been illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

The same form of commode top previously described, and indicated at I0, is provided in this modification, and the same conventional form of commode top cover having the inturned marginal portion I2 provided with a bead or seam to receive the flexible rim I4.

Likewise, as in the preceding forms, the rim I4 has terminal portions I8 attached to the swivel connections 26 above described. In this embodiment, the spring device is likewise secured to the mid-portion of the under surface of the commode top I0. This device includes a mounting block 42 preferably in the form of a spool of any suitable material, this block being provided with a helical groove upon its cylindrical surface. The block, which may be of any desired and suitable material, is detachably secured as by fastening screws or the like 44 to the under surface of the commode cover I0. The spring device forming a part of this-embodiment includes a helical coil 46, whose convolutions are wound about and disposed within the grooves upon the cylindrical surface of the block 42, as shown in` Figure 7, this helical coil having its ends crossed, as shown in Figure 6, to provide a pair of arms 48, having hooked extremities 5G. These extremities engage in the links 25, and the helical coil 46 serves to yieldingly bias or urge the arms 48 in a direction to draw their hooked portions 50 to?.

wards each other, thereby serving to tension the rim I4. The operation of this form of the invention is identical with that previously described.

The three embodiments of the invention pre-- viously described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, 3-5, 6 and 7 provide the mounting of the spring device at the mid-portion of the underv or headed extremities, and a fastening means 7 hinge construction, such as that shown and described hereinafter in connection with Figures 12l and 13, may be employed, since the hinge construction in itself is of no consequence so far as` the principles of the invention disclosed in the embodiments of Figures 8 and 9-11 are concerned, and it has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate the same. However, the conventional top III is likewise provided with the conventional cover having the inturned marginal portion I2 and the flexible rim I4 in the marginal bead thereof, this rim having end portions I6 all as above set forth. The rim ends I6 are engaged and tensioned to yieldingly retain the cover upon the top by the spring device illustrated in Figure 8. This spring device includes a casing 54 which is preferably a hollow, substantially tubular casing, the same being provided with terminal mounting brackets 56 which are detachably secured, as by screws 58, to the under surface of the commode top I0. Extending centrally and longitudinally of the casing 54, and secured to the terminal brackets 56 isv a guide rod 60. that side of the casing 54 which is opposite the hinged end 52 of the top I0 is provided a longitudinally extending slot or slots S2.

A helical coil tension spring 64 is slidablyA Upon V ends I6.

5.,. slot 62, these arms havinghooked extremities 6,8 ngagable.Withrtheendsmpslz; .12u15 ,xian :#:Jllin @is einithis'modication;fthetension of the helical springiyieldinglyebiasesllor fur'gess'th'itwofarms 66 toward each other, whi-lefthe sldtorslots-Z guide-thef'arms during this movement and permit the same.

Thistensioning or biasing action of vthe spring serves to tighten'itheiendsaotfftheirim t4 and yieldinglyind` detachably secure the top cover upon theitop in the same manner' asf-setrforthin connection with the precedingiembodiments:-1` r-' Yige-,somewhat similar arrangement toqczthatgof Figure 8 is disclosed in the fth modification of the invention in Figures 8-11. The commode top I0, having the hinged extremity 52, as in Figure 8, is provided with a top cover having an inturned marginal portion I2 provided with a flexible rim I4 having extremities I. The modified form of tensioning device disclosed in Figures 9-11 comprises a cylindrical or tubular housing 10, having integral or rigidly attached supporting brackets 12 at its extremities, suitable fasteners such as screws 14 serving to detachably secure the brackets and the casing 10 to the under surface f the commode top I0 at the hinged end 52 thereof. Extending longitudinally through the casing 10, and secured to the end bracket 12 as shown clearly in Figure 11 is an axially disposed rod 16, and extending longitudinally of the casing and upon opposite sides of the same are a pair of slots 18. A helical compression spring 85 encircles the rod 16 Within the hollow interior or" the casing 10 and, as shownin Figure 9, has its opposite ends extended laterally through one of the slots 18, as at 82, this extending portion being folded back upon itself as at 84, being bowed as at 85 to encircle the rod 16 as shown in Figure 10, and then being extended in opposite directions and out of the opposite slot 'i8 to provide a laterally and oppositely extending arm 88 having a hooked extremity 80. The hooked ends 80 engage the ends IB of the rim I4, and these ends I6 cross each other as shown in Figure 9. The compressive force of the helical spring 00 serves to urge the arms 88 with their hooked portions 00 away from each other and thereby tension the exible rim. It will be noted that in this embodiment of the invention, the oppositely extending arm portions 82, S4 and 88 are slidable in and guided in the longitudinally extending slot 18; and that the arms 82, 84 constitute a pair of finger grip portions by means of which the spring may be compressed in order to release or disengage the connection of the hooks 80 with the rim extremity I6. The operation of this form of the invention is substantially identical with that previously set forth and described.

Disclosed in Figures 12 and 13 are sixth and seventh embodiments of this invention in which the spring devices are specifically adapted for mounting upon the conventional commode top hinge pin and hinge arms without the necessity for using screws or the like.

In the sixth embodiment, disclosed in Figure 12, the commode top I0, having the hinged extremity 52, is provided with hinge arms 92 of a conventional and known type, which are pivotally received upon a hinge pin 94 mounted by suitable supporting brackets 96 to a commode bowl, not shown, and in a manner well understood and conventional in the art. In this embodiment, the top cover is likewise provided with a marginal inturned portion I2 having a exible rim I4 with A pair of spring devices are provided helical coils having one"extr`emity, asiat108,v

hingearm 92.`

specifically adapted for securing.,the end I a manneltofyieldingiy tension-the samrrnaciiof these-spring devices-immessaheueartorsicir" il" spring 98"'afdaptedl tov "loosely encircle H pin 94 adjacent 'fone en`d""tliereofj each Itis 'evident that the springs disclosed" in Fig-v ure may-be readilyappliedfto ai"'co'ni'fenti commode top'hinge pin andthehinge of; "and: when so""app1ied the linhereit torsional' force or" the coil 98 will cause the arm I 00 to tend to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin 92, and thereby tension the ends I6 of the rim I4, holding the cover l2 tautly upon the top I0.

A slight modication of the construction shown in Figure 12, constituting a seventh embodiment of the principles of the invention, has been illustrated in Figure 13 and is identical in every respect with that shown in Figure 13, except that the arms IIlIJ have hooked extremities |08 which face in the opposite direction from the extremities |02 of Figure 12, that is, face oppositely from each other. The spring devices are mounted in the same manner set forth in connection with Figure 12, but as will be seen from Figure 13 the ends I 6 of the rim I4 cross each other and are attached to the hooked portions |08. The ope-ration of the springs is the same as set forth in respect to the modification of Figure l2, except that the anchorage of the springs to the rim ends is at a greater distance.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device, together with its many advantages, will be readily apparent and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modiiications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specication and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and described the invention, what is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A commode top cover holder comprising a body forming an anchor, means securing said anchor to the midportion of a commode top, a pair of wire springs having one end of each secured in recesses in said body, the other end of each of said springs having a hook for engaging the ends of a exible rim of a commode top cover, saidwire springs having a resilient bias to cause tightening of said rim and cover on said commode top.

2. In combination, a commode top, a cover of pliable sheet material for said commode top, a spring anchor block secured to the midportion of the underside of the commode top, straight wire spring means carried by said block, said cover having a flexible rim terminating in adjacent spaced ends, said spring means having a pair of hooks engaging said adjacent spaced ends tc cause tightening of said rim and cover on said commode top.

3. In combination, a commode top, a cover of pliable sheet material for said commode top, a spring anchor block secured to the midportion of the underside of the commode top, straight wire spring means carried by said block, said cover having a flexible rim terminating in adjacent 7 spaced ends, said spring means having a pair` of hooks engaging said adjacent spaced ends to cause tightening of said rim and cover on said commode top, said spring means comprising a pair of straight wire members.

4. In combination, a commode top, a cover of pliable sheet material for said commode top, a spring anchor block secured to the midportion of the underside of the commode top, straight Wire spring means carried by said block, said cover having a flexible rim terminating in adiacent spaced ends, said spring means having a pair of hooks engaging said adjacent spaced ends to cause tightening of said rim and cover on said commode top, said spring means comprising a pair of straight wire members, said block having recesses, each of said wire members having one end seated in a recess. 1

LLOYD W. BOONE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

